Home > Press > RUSNANO to Invest in Production of Chrome-Aluminium Catalysts and Adsorbents for the Russian Petrochemical Sector

Abstract:
Commerical production of nanostructured microspheric chrome-aluminium catalyzers for dehydrated isoparaffins KDI-90 and adsorbents for desiccant drying of olefin-containing feedstreams will be conducted within the the framework of this project.

RUSNANO to Invest in Production of Chrome-Aluminium Catalysts and Adsorbents for the Russian Petrochemical Sector

Russia | Posted on March 11th, 2010

RUSNANO, Kataliz (the developer and principal operator in the project) Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez, and Kazan State University will cooperate to execute the project. Its total budget is 436 million rubles. RUSNANO will invest 185.5 million rubles.

The production facility will be situated on the premises of Nizhnekamskneftekhim in the Republic of Tatarstan. Its proximity to Nizhnekamskneftekhim and Kazanorgsintez, the main consumers of its output, is a considerable advantage.

The project stems from developments by Kataliz, a scientific collective working on structural and textural transformation of hydroxides and oxides of aluminum under conditions of industrial synthesis. As a result, Kataliz has patented highly effective microspheric chrome-alumina catalyzers for dehydrogenation of paraffins. These are used to produce monomers of synthetic rubber and high-octane additives. Significant social and economic effect will be derived from the use of project catalyzers in production of monomers for synthetic rubbers (final products—tires and rubber): the catalyzers reduce harmful atmospheric emissions and lower the production costs for monomers and the wear and tear on production equipment.

According to Managing Director of RUSNANO Dionis Gordin, the realization of this project will guarantee greater competiveness of Russian petrochemical products in the global market.

"In the innovative sphere, the project will facilitate technology transfer to commercial production and create a new center of competence in the development of catalyzers and adsorbents, closer to primary consumers; in the social sphere, it will improve environmental conditions," Mr. Gordin said. "In addition, realization of the project will reduce the technological gap between Russia and the world's other catalyzer producers. By using base technology, it will be possible to create microspheric catalyzers for oxidative chlorination of ethylene and dehydrogenation of propane."

In 2008 the world market for catalyzers of dehydrated isoparaffins was about 50,000 tons. The Russian market held around 67 percent of the world market, that is, around 33,000 tons. Marketing company Branan forecasts that demand for catalyzers in Russia will grow at an average annual rate of seven percent to eight percent.

At the end of 2008 the world market in adsorbents for desiccant drying of olefin-containing feedstreams was assessed at approximately 300,000 tons, which includes the Russian share of 12,500 (4.2 percent). Its rate of growth in the world market for the period 2004-2009 averaged 2.7 percent and proved fairly consistent despite the financial crisis (-1 percent), due to high demand for polymer products globally. The Russian market imports around 50 percent of its adsorbents. The characteristics of domestic adsorbents are inferior to Western adsorbents; Russian products, however, are less expensive than their Western counterparts.

Kataliz has considerable experience in development and implementation of catalyzers in the petrochemical sector. The company has developed a series of iron oxide catalysts to obtain styrene and isoprene. They displaced analogs produced by Shell and BASF at Nizhnekamskneftekhim, and now has replaced them.

Nishnekamskneftekhim was established in 1967. The production complex of the company consists of ten plants, seven centers (including scientific engineering and design work), and management and support departments. The main products issued are synthetic rubbers of general and specific parameters, plastics (polysterene, polypropylene, and monomers), raw materials for production of rubbers and plastics, and other petrochemical goods such as ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, alfa-olefins, and detergents.

The company has grown to become one of the largest petrochemical complexes in Eastern Europe. The joint stock company exports its products (around 53 percent of production) to more than 50 countries in Europe, America, and Southeast Asia. In 2008 Nizhnekamskneftekhim released products exceeding 70 billion rubles. Revenue from the sale of goods and services that year was 70.9 billion rubles and profit from sales—7.4 billion rubles.

Kazanorgsintez is one of the largest chemical businesses in the Russian Federation. It produces more than 38 percent of Russian polyethylene and is its largest exporter. Kaszanorgsintez holds a leading place among producers of polyethylene pipe for gas pipelines, phenol, acetone, cooling liquids, chemical reagents for producing oil and dehydrating natural gas. Each year the company produces more than one million tons of chemical goods.

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About RUSNANOThe Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies (RUSNANO) was established in 2007 by the Federal law ¹ 139-FZ to enable Government policy in the field of Nanotechnology.

To accomplish this task, RUSNANO co-invests in nanotechnology industry projects that have high commercial potential or social benefit. Early-stage investment by RUSNANO lowers the risk of its investment partners from the private sector.

RUSNANO participates in building nanotechnology infrastructure, which includes the nanotechnology centers of excellence, business incubators and early stage investment funds. RUSNANO provides scientific and educational programs that are required for its investment projects to succeed, and also supports the popularization of nanoscience and nanotechnology. RUSNANO selects promising spheres for investment based on longer-term sight created by the leading Russian and world experts.

To assist the Russian nanotechnology industry advance to the global market and strengthening of its international links RUSNANO develops partnerships with the leading nanotechnology centers in the world and organizes the annual Nanotechnology International Forum in Russia.